Emily Fields, a box in her hand, stumbled down the steps of her house to the waiting car outside. After all the years she spent dreaming of leaving Rosewood, the day had finally come and she didn't want it at all. The box felt heavy in Emily's arms despite it only holding a few odds and ends from her bedroom. She shoved it in the trunk of the car, careful not to crush anything, and slammed it shut. All that was left in her house was the furniture that wasn't coming with them and the piece of her wall Toby had cut off. Mrs. Fields feigned anger, but Emily knew that somewhere buried deep inside her mother was appreciation. She didn't want to see that wall go anymore than Emily did. That was a symbol of happier times when her daughters wasn't gay.
Even the sky seemed gloomy, Emily noticed. Aria, Spencer and Hanna weren't allowed to come and say goodbye. The girls had secretly snuck into the bathrooms at school and said their goodbyes there. Emily dug in her purse for her phone and stared at it. All she wanted to do was call one of them, any one of them, and tell them she needed them. It wasn't fair. They didn't do anything wrong. They should be allowed to see each other. They're the only ones to understand...
Emily sunk down onto the porch and laid her head on the railing. So many summers she spent sitting on the porch contemplating her feelings. Feelings for Alison, feelings for Mya, feelings for life... it all seemed to end up spilled on this porch. Did they have a porch in Texas? A single tear slipped down Emily's cheek. As much as she hated Rosewood, the idea of leaving it behind was too much. Her mom insisted that this would only last a year but Emily knew better. They were never coming back. This was the opportunity that her mom was waiting for; get Emily away from the girls, from the spotlight, from Alison's murder and hopefully from her "gay behavior". It was the new chapter Mrs. Fields wanted nothing more to begin.
Lost in her thoughts, Emily didn't even notice the car rolling down the street. She didn't notice when it stopped in front of her house or when a young girl with chocolate skin and beautiful black soft wavy hair stepped out. Emily didn't notice Maya St. Germaine strutting up her sidewalk until her voice, the voice that startled Emily out of even the darkest daydream, whispered into her ear.
"Hey, stranger."
It was like a lightning bolt shot through Emily's veins. Emily's eyes, wide as tea saucers, scanned the entire length of Maya's body before she even had a second thought. Maya wrapped her arms around Emily's neck, almost in a teasing way, and slipped from Emily's lap to the empty space next to her on the porch. Emily, her hand still clutched in Maya's, stared, mouth agape.
"You can't," Emily shook her head and broke the connection. "You can't be here." The smile slipped from Maya's face.
"Your mom finally got to you," she said deadpanned. "I should have figured. Let me guess, you're straight again?"
"No," Emily hissed. "I just can't do this."
"Emily, I'm home. For good."
"And I'm leaving." Emily stood, folded her arms against her stomach, and began walking down the drive. It was too much to see Maya. How could Emily leave when the first real love of her life was sitting on her porch? Emily thought Maya was gone forever.
"Just like you to run away from a fight," Maya muttered.
"Excuse me?" Emily shook her head. Not the point, Emily. Not the point. "I'm leaving as in leaving, leaving. We're moving. To Texas."
It was quiet. Maya was standing there mirroring Emily now with her arms wrapped around her middle.
"What about Aria," said Maya, sucking in a deep pocket of air. Emily was sure she hadn't been breathing since she told her that she was moving. "-and Hanna, and Spencer?"
"I'm not allowed to see them anymore. Long story," Emily laughed a little, tucking a piece of hair that flew from behind her ear. She pointed to the car behind her packed with all their stuff. "We're leaving today. In a few minutes, actually. Mom wants to drive down there. She says it will give us time to talk. Great, right?" Mya wasn't laughing. She stepped closer to Emily, arms dropped to her sides now, and when she was only inches away brought a single smooth hand to caress Emily's face. "I-I can't, Maya."
"We never even got the chance to find out what this was," Their foreheads touched and each girl closed their eyes, breathing in the smell of the other. Emily wanted to tilt her head just a little so their lips would touch but she knew if they did she wouldn't be able to pull away. Maya was intoxicating.
"If I kiss you," Emily whispered. "I won't be able to stop."
"Then kiss me." Their eyes were open now. Maya was grinning. The whole world around them seemed to stop. Emily brought her own hand up and grazed Maya's shoulder, traced up her neck and tickled Maya's jaw line. Her hands dropped down again to intertwine with Maya's.
"Emily?" The sound of her mothers voice came crashing down against Emily like a 30ft wave. "Oh, Maya." said a surprised Mrs. Fields. "Maya..."
"Maya's back." said Emily, a fake smiled across her face. "And I'm leaving. I bet you're happy."
"Emily let's not start this." Mrs. Fields said. "Please, we have to go soon."
"No." Emily shouted. "I don't want to go. I don't want to leave Rosewood, not yet. Not like this. I want to go to Aria's tonight and eat popcorn and watch some stupid movie with Spencer and Hanna. And tomorrow, I want to eat lunch with them in the cafeteria like we always do. This weekend I want to spend the night at Spencer's and the weekend after that I want to got to a movie. I want to date her-" she pointed a thin finger at Maya, who was now looking very uncomfortable. "-because I like her. I like girls, mom and that's not going to change just because we live in Texas. You know that, don't you?"
"-of course I-"
"-my friends aren't even here because all of you won't let them! I'm leaving for a year or more and I can't even say goodbye to my friends properly. They're my best friends. They understand me, which is something you have never even tried to do-"
"-I try-"
"-and you never will try to do because you're never going to like who I am! I love dad and I love you but I am not getting in that car."
"Oh and where do you think you're going to stay?" Mrs. Fields shouted back. "You are sixteen years old. You belong with your family."
"I have more than one family," Emily shook with anger now. Her voice, unsteady and low, shook through her body. "Spencer, Hanna and Aria are my family too."
"Get in the car." Emily's mom seethed through clenched teeth. Emily turned around, grabbed Maya and kissed her. They had never kissed like this before; so full of passion, longing and want. Emily let her hands roam along Maya's thin frame and finally rest at her hips. Maya stumbled backwards at Emily's force but caught herself on the hood of the Fields' car. Emily pushed herself into Maya as much as she could until there was no space between them. She could hear her mom in the background telling her to stop, to pull away, but only the desperate need for air finally tugged Emily and Maya's lips apart. Adrenaline rushed through Emily's body; it wasn't just from the kiss, but from doing something so inappropriate and so tantalizingly dangerous in front of her mother was almost as intoxicating as the girl in front of her.
Mrs. Fields was crying now. Emily didn't know if it was because she finally had the eye witness proof of her daughters sexuality or because Emily had just screamed her head off at her, but fat tears were rolling down her cheeks. Momentarily, Emily felt bad, but then she remembered all the tears she has cried because of her mother. Emily wasn't going to feel bad. Not this time.
"You will stay," Mrs. Fields took a long gulp of air. "-with the Montgomery's. Not with her," she pointed at Maya. "I'll call them now. You still won't be allowed contact with the other girls unless Ella says so." Emily felt a great weight in her stomach rise and disappear. What was her mom saying? "On Christmas, Easter, and any other holiday you will be flying down to us. This includes any long weekends you might have. I don't care how much homework you need to get down. You will fly down to use and do it in Texas." She was rustling through her purse now looking for her phone. "I suggest you start pulling out what boxes and bags are yours," she nodded to the car. "You will need most of your things. Clothes, and stuff. I can send you an allowance once a week for anything you might need." Emily could hardly believe what her mom was saying. She unlatched the trunk instantly and began pull out all the boxes she had written her name on. Now, she wished she hadn't been so hastily labeling them. Her and Maya had to rip open tape and look inside. In the end, Emily found most of her clothes and things she thought were important. All of her things related to Alison had already been placed carefully in her bag. Emily went to her car, which her mom said they would later bring down, and began stuffing in the contents of her life. Maya helped, the girls sneaking quick, flirty glances at each other, while in the background Mrs. Fields was on the phone with Ella Montgomery. Emily realized much too late that moving the boxes could be premature; would Ella even let her stay with everything that has been happening?
Emily's mom ended her phone call and walked to the girls. She had perfected the art of ignoring Maya's presence. Her tears had faded now, but her eyes were red and puffy.
"Ella agreed," she whispered. "Is this really what you want?"
"It's what I want," said Emily. "And it's also what I need." Mrs. Fields coughed to cover up a small sob. Emily stepped forward to hug her mother but Mrs. Fields stepped back; this, not her mothers words, was more painful. Maya recognized the hurt on Emily's face and clutched her hand tightly in her own. Mrs. Fields ignored the gesture.
"You'll call," Emily's mom muttered. "You'll call and you'll visit. I will add some money to your bank account so the Montgomery's don't have to pay for everything."
"Okay."
"You need to continue going to church."
"Okay."
"Make sure you stay away from Hanna and Spencer. I can't very well keep you and Aria separate now, but the rules still apply."
"Okay."
"Don't go making any more trouble for the police."
"Okay."
"Stay away from Toby."
"Okay."
"I expect top grades."
"I know."
"Goodbye, then." Mrs. Fields turned on her heels and walked to the drivers side of the car. Maya shoved Emily forward towards her mother.
"Go," she mouthed. Before Mrs. Fields could get into her door, Emily slipped her arms around her mother and hugged her. It was a hug Emily had never given her before; even before Emily came out, Mrs. Fields was always the colder parent. But Emily hugged her mother and her mother hugged back. Emily's face felt wet but she wasn't sure if it was from her tears or her mothers. When they pulled apart, Mrs. Fields didn't look at her daughter.
"I love you, mom." Emily said. Mrs. Fields sat with her hands on the steering wheel, staring forward. For a second, Emily thought her mom was going to close the car door and leave without saying the words back to her. Instead, Mrs. Fields climbed out of her car and once again reached for her daughter. Their hug didn't last as long, but Emily felt in the hug what her mom would never be able to say.
I accept you.
"I love you too, Emily." Her mom still didn't look at her as she got back in her car and shut the door. The car pulled away from the curb and winded down the long streets of Rosewood. Soon, Emily couldn't see it. She turned around and found Maya still standing there, tears in her eyes, and arms welcoming Emily back. Emily fell into them and soaked in every inch of Maya. Emily kissed her lips and down Maya's jaw until she reached her beautifully carved chocolate neck. The sound of a car backfiring in the distance reminded Emily how public the two of them were and she pulled herself away. Breathless, Emily fell against the side of her car, letting her shoulder graze Maya's.
"We could go back to my house," Maya offered. Emily almost said yes. "No one is home."
"No." she said. "I should get to Aria's. They know I'm coming."
"You're right." Slyly, Maya slid in front of Emily and closed the space between them. Her lips hovered just above Emily's, taunting her. "When will I see you again?" Maya's hand slipped under the hem of Emily's shirt, lightly grazing the skin there. Her thumb moved in slow circles on Emily's hip now. Maya's other hand came up and brushed hair from Emily's face.
"I..." Emily looked down at Maya, at her slender body, pushed against her own. She licked her lips. "I think I could spare a few minutes."
Two hours later, Emily pulled up in front of the Montgomery's spacious home. Aria was sitting on the porch. She leapt up at Emily's sight and rushed down the steps to greet her.
"Your mom called hours ago!" Aria hissed. "Where have you been? I was worried something happened. After last night at Spencer's with the text from Ian..."
"Maya's home," Emily smiled, leaving it at that.